WINNIPEG – A new report is recommending Winnipeg develop a new emergency service line dedicated to responding to mental health crises.
The document, initiated last year by Mayor Scott Gillingham, says a mental health and addictions crisis response model could divert more than 10,000 calls each year to experts in the field.
Currently, police, fire and paramedic members are the only options available to respond to wellness calls when someone calls 911.
The proposed model would see the city work with Indigenous organizations, community agencies, health-care providers and emergency services to determine who is best suited to respond.
Gillingham says it would help people while allowing emergency responders to focus on urgent calls that require their specialized skills.
He said he plans to ask city council to endorse the report’s recommendations in September, and says support from the Manitoba government is also needed.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 28, 2026.
